Aspirate through the spinal foramina after organ evisceration or by inserting a needle into a lateral ventricle after removing the skull cap, reflecting the dura and separating the cerebral hemispheres

Bile

Rarely used

Aspirate from gallbladder or directly from common bile duct in patients status post cholecystectomy

Gastric Contents

Rinse external stomach with water

Puncture stomach wall and pour stomach contents into bag

Hair

Hair should be obtained by pulling to include hair roots

Adequate sample is 0.5 g for DNA analysis, up to 10 g for analysis of heavy metals

Tie together while maintaining orientation of hair roots

Fingernails

Acquired by clipping or removing the entire nail

Fibroblasts for Tissue Culture

Can be used for karyotyping, metabolic assays, enzyme assays and diagnostic ultrastructural studies

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